It's good to be University of Wisconsin football coach Paul Chryst. Real good.

His Badgers finished 13-1 and ranked among the top 10 teams in the nation last season. For the second straight year, Chryst was named the Big Ten’s Coach of the Year. In his three years at the Badgers’ helm, Chryst’s record is 34-7.

In light of the success, four days ago, Chryst’s contract was renewed for five years, starting at $3.3 million per.

Pretty good for a guy whose coaching journey to the top took more than two decades with stops in the World Football League, the Canadian Football League (twice), a brief stint with the Denver Broncos, and numerous college campuses.

“Honestly, each one of those stops was a blessing,” said Chryst, who was in Naples on Monday for the local Wisconsin alumni chapter’s Badger Day at the Grey Oaks Country Club.

More than 300 people gathered to hear Chryst and school athletic director, Barry Alvarez, talk Badgers football.

When Alvarez named Chryst as Badgers coach in December 2014, the 49-year-old’s career had come full circle.

Chryst grew up blocks away from Camp Randall Stadium, where the Badgers have played since 1895. Chryst, the son of a coach, quarterback end Wisconsin from 1986-88. He was the Badgers offensive coordinator from 2005 through 2011 before leaving to take the head job at Pitt.

“I helped him with the Pitt job, but I hated that he got away,” said Alvarez, who coached the Badgers for 16 seasons and is the school’s winningest coach with 118 victories.

“Paul is a great football guy. And he really understands Wisconsin and our culture. When Paul came in, he didn't inherit the best situation. He was in a tough position and made it work. That first year, we won 10 games and have gotten better ever since.

“We’re back to where we want to be.”

Chryst said he’s had a lot of help in getting back to Wisconsin and getting the Badgers back to national prominence.

“Luckily for me, my wife (Robin) is a pharmacist,” Chryst said. “She was able to fund my coaching habit those first few years. But to end up at Wisconsin, to be able to coach at a place you care for, that's special. I feel extremely fortunate.”

Both Chryst and Alvarez said they felt a lot of pride watching another former Badgers running back star in the Super Bowl for the second straight year. The Philadelphia Eagles' Corey Clement, a 2017 undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin, had 100 yards receiving, including a touchdown.

Another former Badgers back, the New England Patriots’ James White, also scored a touchdown. In the previous Super Bowl, White scored three touchdowns, including the winning one, to complete the Patriots’ comeback victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

Jonathan Taylor, who starred as a freshman this season, may be the next in line.

“It shows they are prepared well when they leave us and go into the NFL,” Alvarez said. “Our offense is the same as an NFL offense.”

“That was pretty neat to see,” Chryst said of Clement’s performance. “We know how rare that is and are happy for them just to be in the game.

“We can't take credit for their success in the Super Bowl, but we do take pride that when our players leave us, they’re ready to play at the next level. That's our job. ”

From The USA TODAY NETWORK

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